Once again

Once again I find myself heading off to Dumfries and Galloway for a bit of wildlife watching.
It seems this area has an abundance of goodies to share with anyone interested in wildlife, and you don't have to go it alone, there's a great programme of events to take you through the Autumn months.
On this particular early morning outing I was heading off to Caerlaverock to see the Geese come up of the Merse as the sun rises. There must have been a few bitten finger ends because, with the gale force winds we've been having, all blowing from the south the numbers of migrants were seriously down. 
Then on the Wednesday  we had winds from the North East and many of those waiting birds arrived.
About a dozen of us met up at the visitor centre before walking down the Avenue towards the Saltcote Tower and then out onto the Merse, an area not normally open to visitors.
As the sun rose so did the geese, hundreds of them from every direction, heading for the fields around Caerlaverock to feed for the day. 
As well as a sight for the eye's it's also a feast for the ears, as those powerful wings beat the air and that mournful, or joyful honking surrounds you. Then it was over and we headed back for tea and bacon sandwiches, both excellent.

 Some Whooper Swans fly past

After breakfast there was time to check out the reserve ponds.

Dabchick

This Mute Swan looks to be enjoying its bath

I went onto Dumfries to check out the River Nith for Goosanders, I love watching these little birds dive head first into a raging torrent. Still haven't managed one with a fish yet but maybe next time.

More Wildfowl

Been to a Parish Council  meeting tonight (I sit at the back and heckle) it went on longer than normal so I'm just posting pictures with a title.
Taken on a nice day at Caerlaverock, I'd hoped to get the shot of Barnacle Geese that I have in mind but they stayed well away from the camera.

Male Shoveler

Dunnock signing it heart out to claim a territory

Whooper Swans, some of these will be last years cygnets all their fluffy grey feathers have gone.

Whooper Swan landing

Whooper Swans heading towards the light. In a large version of this you can see a trail of water drops behind the swans.

Caerlaverock

Metcheck was showing good weather to the west of Gilsland, and rain to the east so it was an easy decision to head to Caerlaverock.
TT came with me, he hasn't been during the winter months so hasn't seen the mass of swans and geese that overwinter on the Solway coast.
We arrived just in time for the 11am feed, I have no idea how swans tell time but they obviously do because with a few minutes to the hour they start arriving at the feeding point.

Whooper Swans and Mute Swans gathering to be fed

Wouldn't this be a great jigsaw puzzle?

When the wheat is cast there's a boiling of the waters until it's a mass of swan bodies and you can see where the expression 'pecking order' comes from.

Fancy seeing you here.

There's a hide overlooking the feeding area, the windows don't open so while the swans can see people behind the glass they don't appear to feel threatened. You get great close up views of the birds and the staff seem to keep the glass of the hide clean so it's easy to get photographs.

Eventually the food is all eaten, the smaller ducks wade in for their share and all is tranquil until the next feeding time comes around.

Whooper Swans and Tufted Ducks, calm after the feeding frenzy

Lots of other ducks and birds to see and this has been a great year for unusual, even rare birds at Caerlaverock, if you check the site news you'll be able to see what you might find when you visit.

Tufted duck has a 'bad hair' day in the windy weather

Swans and Geese should be around for another month.

I can't describe the sound of 6,000 geese taking off it's magical and something not to be missed.

All photographs used in this blog are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission.

12 02 11

A few shots from Caerlaverock WWT reserve in Dumfries and Galloway.

Unlike other WWT reserves there are no captive birds at Caerlaverock and in winter they get huge flocks of Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans.

Amazing to see them flying around the site and the noise of their wings is like music.
The honking, and there's a lot of honking, is not musical at all.
The swans are fed three times a day and know exactly when to arrive for food, you can see them fly in and land with a great splash,  the black on the beaks of the Whoopers make them look as if they're smiling, which is infectious.

Waiting to be fed

Folly Pond, Solway and LakeDistrict beyond

Splash Landing

Wild Whopper Swans flying over Caerlaverock WWT reserve

Wild Whooper Swan in close-up, most hides have windows that open but where the swans are fed, and they come in really close, you must photograph them through glass. It is kept clean.

Blue sky and Whooper Swans

Widgeon

Lots of various ducks, Curlew, Lapwing, Peregrine, Yellowhammers, Reed Bunting, deer and of course Geese about on the site at this time of the year.

The Caerlaverock website does list what's been seen on site on a regular basis although obviously these are wild birds so come and go.

all photographs used in this Blog are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission

08 02 11

Had a senior moment today.
TT came in from work at 10am, so the car was mine for the rest of the day.
There's a Loch near Lockerbie that I wanted to visit, never been there before but it was mentioned in a wildlife walks leaflet.
It would seem that I was driving on autopilot because before I realised what was happening I was heading for Dumfries.
Could have turned around but then I thought I'd just go to Caerlaverock, fortunately I had my WWT membership card with me.
As I pulled into the carpark a helicopter went overhead and the Barnacle Geese went up in a cloud.
I followed them to the field they'd landed in just in time to see the helicopter come back and off they went again.
Managed to get some shots of them flying.

It's so noisy, and messy when they fly overhead but amazing to see, they should be around until the middle of March if you want to see for yourself.

The reserve also has lots of Whooper Swans wintering and they are fed twice a day at 11am and 2pm.

Swans fly in on the dot and wait for their corn.

I didn't get a very good shot of the swans today so here's one from January last year when the snow was on the ground.

BTW: It seems that I can't just reply to comments, once I figure out a way to reply I will.

I'm sure you used to be able to reply via the Blogger dashboard but can't find that option, I think a little googling is in order.

 

All photographs © Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission.